Okay, first the pH buffer will only end up causing you issues unless you are constantly on top of it. Either way it is unneccessary in 99 out of 100 situations.
The pH is probably setteling back to it's normal range (test your tap water after letting it sit out for a day to compare - It will probably ready ~7.2). Because the pH buffer releases over time (heavy at first that slowly dissipates over the life of the product), the pH will never be stable.
Q 1: In your case they are not related. It's the Buffer you used that is no longer affective that is causing your pH rise.
Q 2: Yes. A tank is never actualy "over". Simply, ammonia is converted into nitrItes and rItes into nitrAtes. NitrAtes are the end product, and will constantly increase in a tank until they are removed either by a water change or from plants.
As each bacteria is developed and colonized in a tank, this process becomes more prevelant. Ammonia is "cycled" into nitrItes 1st, and when the bacterias are sufficient to do so in a balanced system ammonia is converted over before it can build up in the system. The same is true when the nitrifcating bacterias are sufficient for converting nitrItes in nitrAtes. However, this last stage is much slower and thus we often see both nitrItes and nitrAtes present in a cycling tank.
The good news is that this is an indicator that the cycle is nearly balanced with the fish present. However, the reason most LFS caution in only adding a few fish every 2-3 weeks is b/c every time you introduce more fish to a newly cycled tank (ie. a larger bioload and thus more ammonia), the "cycle" must rebalance itself. If done slowly, there is little to no adverse impacts to the balance,. However, if deon too fast or by introducing too many fish this can cause what we call a mini-cycle (a spike in the ammonia and/or nitrItes).
Hope this helps!
The pH is probably setteling back to it's normal range (test your tap water after letting it sit out for a day to compare - It will probably ready ~7.2). Because the pH buffer releases over time (heavy at first that slowly dissipates over the life of the product), the pH will never be stable.
Q 1: In your case they are not related. It's the Buffer you used that is no longer affective that is causing your pH rise.
Q 2: Yes. A tank is never actualy "over". Simply, ammonia is converted into nitrItes and rItes into nitrAtes. NitrAtes are the end product, and will constantly increase in a tank until they are removed either by a water change or from plants.
As each bacteria is developed and colonized in a tank, this process becomes more prevelant. Ammonia is "cycled" into nitrItes 1st, and when the bacterias are sufficient to do so in a balanced system ammonia is converted over before it can build up in the system. The same is true when the nitrifcating bacterias are sufficient for converting nitrItes in nitrAtes. However, this last stage is much slower and thus we often see both nitrItes and nitrAtes present in a cycling tank.
The good news is that this is an indicator that the cycle is nearly balanced with the fish present. However, the reason most LFS caution in only adding a few fish every 2-3 weeks is b/c every time you introduce more fish to a newly cycled tank (ie. a larger bioload and thus more ammonia), the "cycle" must rebalance itself. If done slowly, there is little to no adverse impacts to the balance,. However, if deon too fast or by introducing too many fish this can cause what we call a mini-cycle (a spike in the ammonia and/or nitrItes).
Hope this helps!
Last edited:
